50/150 A damsel in distress? Think again!

Have you ever wondered what the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly was? Well you’ve come to the right place! First things first, both dragons and damsels make up an ancient order of insects called Odonata. They originated at least 300 million years ago and have changed very little in body design since then. The main difference between dragonflies and damselflies is that dragonflies are larger bodied, highly proficient fliers, and hold their wings horizontally like an airplane while at rest. Damselflies are more slender and weaker fliers and hold their wings together behind their body when perched.

Now to zero in a bit on one particular group of damselflies: the Pond Damselflies. Pond damselflies (Coenagrionidae) are the most diverse group of damsels in the world. In Ontario alone there are 34 species of pond damsels! Most of these species are Bluets (genus Enallagma). As you might have guessed from the name, these damselflies are distinguishable from other damselfly genera in that they are generally blue in colour. Bluets are commonly associated with permanent bodies of water, as they lay their eggs in ponds and lakes and overwinter as aquatic larvae. As adults, damsels feed on spiders and other small invertebrates by flying close to vegetation and scooping their prey up from plant leaves. During mating season, males search for a female partner. Upon finding one, the male clasps the female by her neck while she bends her body around to his reproductive organs. This distinctive posture is called the “heart” or “wheel” position. The female then deposits her fertilized eggs into water. Damselfly mating is precisely choreographed and gives a whole new meaning to “sex aerobics”. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150

49/150: BEHOLD! The longest migration of any bird, The Arctic Tern

The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a winter, sea-faring bird with the longest yearly migration of any known species. They will travel a total of 70,900 km in one year from their breeding site in Northern Canada and Europe to their winter home near Antarctica. They breed at 3-4 years of age in the open tundra, boreal forest or rocky islands and beaches. They make nests out of gravel, grass or surrounding vegetation on the ground for their clutch of 1-3 eggs. Often Arctic terns will return to the area they were hatched to breed as adults. These medium sized, agile birds dive into the water from flight to catch fish, also feeding on crustaceans and flying insects. The Arctic tern can live for decades and have a current estimated population of 1 million. There are 14 representatives on BOLD with barcode records. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150